48 Hour Thread - Please Put that out

[Stogie]

48 Hour thread will only be open for a total of 48 hours then it will be CLOSED before the next 48 hour thread is created.

Ok so I was in Esteli, Nicaragua at Los Chiguetos restaurant in the heart of Tobacco country itself. I was there ordering food with about 8 guys and 2 of us were smoking when a crowd of ladies walked into the restaurant. We were actually seated on the patio of the restaurant were we would not disturb people with the smoke. The ladies middle-aged decided to sit at the table next to us.

Three minutes into them sitting down I could hear them talking in spanish about the smoke. The hands raised to cover the noses and they all began to make a fuss. They finally turned around and asked us in spanish to "Please PUT THAT OUT". Personally I was friggin shocked. The community we were in would be near to nonexistent if not for tobacco. I really could not believe they asked us to put it out.

Question: What would you say? Remember They asked nicely by saying PLEASE.

[madurolover]

I would probably tell them that their perfume was bothering me terribly and would they Please move!

[goalie204]

I would have very politely said no.

[Smokin Gator]

When in Rome... not knowing their customs I would put it out, move, or leave.

[piperman]

You need to respect the locals, I would think, but thats me.

[d_day]

I probably would have gone elsewhere and continued to smoke.

[raralith]

I would explain that my cigar is more expensive than my meal. I was here first, but I would gladly move to a far end to not disturb you. If there is no room, I'd try to make an effort to move a bit over whether it be scooting the chairs or moving to the next table. If they were there first, I would consider putting it out, but since that was not the case, I definately would not.

By the way, while it may be tabacco country and while you may be fairly certain that they are profiting from it somehow, I don't see why it matters. Some people don't like smoke, there's nothing else beyond that.

[joeysmac]

Originally Posted by Stogie

The ladies middle-aged decided to sit at the table next to us.

This says it all for me. They decided to sit there, they can decide to move.

[BigCat]

I don't think you need to respect the locals for being local any more than they need to respect you for being a tourist and spending money in their county and stimulating their economy. Presumably, smoking is allowed there and you were already polite to select an area where it would bother the least amount of people. And you were there first. I'd tell her that. And if she still complained after being politely told no, I'd stick my thumbs in my ears with my fingers extended upward, move my hands around and make a farting noise with my mouth before resuming my smoking. Well maybe I wouldn't do that second part, but it would be funny if I did

[madurolover]

Kind of reminds me of going to Olive Garden a while back. Was sitting in the smoking section, finished my meal and asked the waitress if I could smoke a cigar. She said "of course, this is the smoking section". I lit the cigar and about 5 minutes later a couple comes in with 3 kids and sit at the table right beside us, in the smoking section.

After they had been there about 5 minutes the obviously health conscious 280 pound woman starts complaining to her husband about the cigar smoke making her feel sick. I kept right on puffing so they complained to the waitress who informed them that they were seated in the smoking section but that there were plenty of tables available in non-smoking.

Of course they would not move but she continued to complain while I continued to smoke my cigar (and it may have been the shortest nub I have ever smoked a cigar to)

[ThreeSheets]

"I am sorry the smoke bothers you. Had you been here first, I would not have lit my cigar. However, since I was here well before you, I suggest you move to a different table. I am not putting out my cigar."

Or just "No." if there was a language barrier.

[joeysmac]

Originally Posted by madurolover

the obviously health concious 280 pound woman

...nice.

[raralith]

Yeah, I had something particularly dumb happen to me too.

I was smoking outside Starbucks in the morning, and right next to it is a Coldstones. I've been sitting there reading a book, half way done with my cigar, and by this time they open. What's the first thing they do? Fully open the double doors and block them with trash cans so they won't close. While they did not ask me to put out my cigar, I heard them complain. I didn't understand the logic behind it. There are always 2-3 smokers, whether it be cigar or cigarettes, outside Starbucks, sitting at those tables.

[s15driftking]

i would say "i apologize, but it is my right to be doing this" and then i'd offer to move...

[lonsdale]

Originally Posted by ThreeSheets

"I am sorry the smoke bothers you. Had you been here first, I would not have lit my cigar. However, since I was here well before you, I suggest you move to a different table. I am not putting out my cigar."

Or just "No." if there was a language barrier.

Bravo! This I think is best answer I have read, although all have merit.